BYU defeated Fordham 12-1 in five innings to earn a rematch against Utah for the regional title tomorrow afternoon.
Libby Sugg led the Cougars with 4 RBIs off of two doubles and a home run.
“I am proud of the team for being resilient through the tough loss to Utah,” said BYU coach Gordon Eakin. “It’s not easy to do to be able to regain your composure, put it behind you and come out and play a solid game. They did that and I’m proud of that effort. We will get a little bit of rest tonight and come back tomorrow ready to fight as hard as we can.”
BYU jumped ahead in the first after Sugg hit an RBI double and Ashley Thompson followed up with an RBI single.
A Caitlyn Alldredge RBI single scored Thompson, extending the Cougars’ lead to 3-0.
Aris Paulson started pitching for BYU, going all five innings with four strikeouts and one earned run off of three hits.
The Cougars added eight runs in the third inning, capped by a two-run home run from Sugg to make it 11-0.
Fordham got a run in the bottom half of the third, but BYU was on cruise control at that point.
The Cougars will face Utah at 2 p.m. in the region final. If BYU wins, the teams will play a second game immediately after the first to decide who advances to the Super Regionals next week.
A Utah win in the first game would result in BYU’s second loss in the double-elimination tournament and send the Utes to the Super Regionals.
